NON-MOLLUSCAN INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY RESEARCH

Research at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences falling under the broad umbrella of Non-Molluscan Invertebrate Zoology spans multiple units and laboratories, a variety of topics, and a wide diversity of taxa.

CRAYFISH AND CRAYFISH SYMBIONTS (ASTACOLOGY)

Crayfishes serve as habitable landscapes for a diversity of organisms that range in association
from incidental to opportunistic to obligate. Research in the Non-Molluscan Invertebrate Unit
focuses on crayfishes and two groups of crayfish symbionts, branchiobdellidans and entocytherid
ostracods. Branchiobdellidans, more commonly referred to as crayfish worms, comprise an order of
leech-like annelid worms that are obligate ectosymbionts of crustaceans, primarily astacoidean
(Northern Hemisphere) crayfishes. Ostracods of the family Entocytheridae are tiny crustaceans that
also exhibit an obligate relationship with their crustacean hosts, including astacoidean and
parastacoidean (Southern Hemisphere) crayfishes. Our ongoing research spans much of North America,
with projects focused on the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West, the Interior Plains, New
England, and the Southeastern U.S., the latter the global center of diversity for crayfishes,
branchiobdellidans, and entocytherids. Non-Molluscan Invertebrate Unit staff apply an integrative
approach, combining methods from several disciplines, and working with a wide variety of data types.
Of particular interest is the merging of molecular and morphometric methods to examine historical
and contemporary dynamics within and among crayfish and symbiont species and communities. This
approach makes extensive use of museum specimens, including those housed in the Non-Molluscan
Invertebrate Collection at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. To learn more about the
Non-Molluscan Invertebrate Unit and Collection, check out http://b-w-williams-invert.weebly.com and http://naturalsciences.org/research-collections/nonmolluscan-invertebrates-
collection
respectively.

Bryozoans (“moss animals”) are an often abundant and ubiquitous group of largely sessile (non-moving) colonial organisms found in freshwater, estuarine, and marine habitats (Class Phylactolaemata = freshwater; Classes Stenolaemata and Gymnolaemata = marine). Megan McCuller, Collections Manager of Non-molluscan Invertebrates, is primarily interested in the taxonomy and systematics of Gymnolaemata. Despite the prevalence of this group globally, they are often overlooked and the thus the scale of invasions underestimated - the status (introduced, native, or cryptogenic) of many species remains uncertain. Gymnolaemate bryozoans exhibit an astounding array of growth forms: encrusting sheets, raised domes, gelatinous masses, creeping chains, bushy tufts, and even upside-down bowl-shaped free-living forms! Because of this massive variety in forms, groups within the phylum are under continuous revision. Bryozoans can also exhibit morphological changes in response to environmental conditions, further complicating taxonomic designations. As the skeletons of most species are made of calcium carbonate and persist after death, bryozoans are an excellent group to study in paleontological, archaeological, and recent biological collections. In addition, molecular data is sorely needed; it is estimated that only 1% of extant bryozoan species have been sequenced.

PLANTHOPPERS, SPITTLEBUGS, FROGHOPPERS, AND TREEHOPPERS (ENTOMOLOGY)

Entomological research at the Museum includes a focus on the evolution of phytophagous (plant-
feeding) insects in the hemipteran suborder Auchenorrhyncha. Jason Cryan, Deputy Director of the
Museum and Chief of Research & Collections, uses molecular methods and comparative morphology to
reconstruct the evolutionary history of several groups of diverse and charismatic insects,
specifically planthoppers (Fulgoroidea), spittlebugs and froghoppers (Cercopoidea), and treehoppers
(Membracidae). Results from this research provide better understanding of the evolution of insect
anatomy, behavior, and biogeographical distribution. Further, as many of these focal species are of
worldwide economic and agricultural importance (including pests of rice, corn, and sugarcane), these
projects may have broader implications for studies on the control of such insects.

EVOLUTION & ECOLOGY OF SOCIAL INSECTS (ENTOMOLOGY)

The Evolutionary Biology & Behavior Research Lab in the Museum’s Nature Research Center is
interested in the behavior, communication, and natural history of insects with a particular focus on
social insects and ants. Our work spans studies of how queens chemically signal their presence to
workers to how ant societies defend themselves against disease. We use techniques from the fields of
chemical ecology, behavioral ecology, evolution, and microbiology. In addition, our lab actively
works with designers and artists to use insects and biology as a source of inspirational and
innovative ideas for the human-designed environment. To learn more about our research, check out: http://www.adrianalansmith.com/.

LINKING THE PAST TO THE PRESENT VIA FOSSIL CRAYFISH (PALEOASTACOLOGY)

Crayfishes comprise two superfamilies, Astacoidea and Parastacoidea, currently restricted to the
Northern and Southern Hemispheres, respectively. Modern distribution of the two astacoidean
families, Astacidae and Cambaridae, across the Holarctic has been highly problematic for crayfish
systematics. Excluding records resulting from recent translocation, modern Astacidae are found west
of the North American Continental Divide and in Europe, while the Cambaridae are found east of the
Divide and in east Asia. Identity and geographic distribution of fossil crayfishes blur this
geographic separation, suggesting that biogeographic history of crayfishes is more complex than
previously considered. Researchers and volunteers in the Paleontology Unit are working in
conjunction with the Non-Molluscan Invertebrate Unit to study western North American fossil
crayfishes in order to help clarify the taxonomic status of both fossil and extant species, and to
aid in understanding historic patterns of diversification and radiation of crayfishes on regional
and global scales. Currently, we are preparing and examining specimens of Pliocene Pacifastacus
chenoderma to evaluate its relationship to extant astacid crayfishes P. gambelii, P. fortis, P.
connectens and the recently extinct P. nigrescens and to see if entocytherid ostracods and
branchiobdellidans (ectosymbionts on crayfishes) are preserved in the fossil record.